Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1106 - 332: True Spirit of Jade Emperor

"Hey, what do you think?"

Sun Monkey spoke, turning to look at the Map of Mountains and Rivers.

This Map of Mountains and Rivers is not the genuine article; it is transformed from Jiang Li's Taixu Qi. After achieving success in the Taixu Tao, Jiang Li's body can completely transform into primordial material, and Taixu Qi can be said to be a part of his body.

It is precisely because of this that Jiang Li can constantly inject power to maintain the seal and keep the momentum of mountains and rivers going.

In a way, this Map of Mountains and Rivers is Jiang Li's incarnation.

"I haven't sensed any special aura, but since the Great Saint says there is, then he must be right."

The outline of a figure was sketched on the painting, and Jiang Li's voice came through, "It seems the Six Souls Banner hasn't completely erased the Jade Emperor's True Spirit, only severely injured it."

"Indeed, after all, it isn't the complete Six Souls Banner."

From Guanyin's memory, the Six Souls Banner was incomplete, with only two tails left, and the flag surface was just a tiny portion, basically losing eighty percent.

In such a situation, the power of the Six Souls Banner is naturally greatly reduced. The Jade Emperor's True Spirit surviving is somewhat understandable. After all, he's of the Second Grade, once a Great Heavenly Venerate of Heavenly Court, his strength ranking among the top few, and his Dao Fruit is top-tier within the Second Grade.

But even though his True Spirit wasn't extinguished under the Six Souls Banner, the situation shouldn't be good. The Six Souls Banner is damaged, but the Jade Emperor is incomplete too.

"Does the Great Saint think this is the Jade Emperor's True Spirit asking you for help?" Jiang Li inquired.

"If it's asking for help, then the situation must be quite dire," Sun Wukong rubbed his chin, "The Jade Emperor was once the Supreme of the Three Realms, his pride is high, wouldn't seek help until reaching the end of his rope. But it's also possible he's feigning weakness intentionally; those old guys are shrewd, a master at manipulation."

Yet, not seeking help until desperate, and feigning weakness while seeking help, seem contradictory, but in practice, they aren't. True help-seeking requires lowering oneself and is a blow to pride, while false help-seeking is deliberate disguise.

For them, there's a self-consistent standard of judgment.

As for Jiang Li being able to understand this, it's of course because Jiang is one of such people.

It's okay for him to pretend to lower himself, but sincerely groveling is out of the question.

The release of aura this time could be a cry for help or a calculated move.

"In other words, it's hard to determine the situation now," Jiang Li said, "In my opinion, let's not worry about it for the time being. What does the Great Saint think?"

"Just leave it alone, these old guys have lived for who knows how long, dying would be worth it," Sun Wukong said nonchalantly, "That old dude wasn't anyone to me. Maybe if one of my junior brothers were here, it'd be different. Or if it was Laozi or Taibai Jinxing, I might rescue them, but not the Jade Emperor."

Clearly, this monkey has his own set of criteria, distinguishing between close and distant very clearly.

And regarding those old guys, the monkey is also very cautious.

This is also a unique perspective of a victim.

"We just need to defeat the Heavenly Monarch and take the Jade Emperor's Dao Fruit," Sun Wukong said, staring at the figure in the painting, "At that time, I'll definitely make a move; don't expect me to just stand guard here."

"Got it," Jiang Li was aware of the monkey's obsession with the Jade Emperor, nodded in agreement, and added, "The Heavenly Monarch is already aware that the Great Venerable is sealed, his apprehensions are reduced, and he can see that I need to maintain the seal, so his confidence in victory is likely increased by ten percent."

The fewer the concerns, the closer the moment of the decisive battle.

It's like a gambler upping the stakes; the less the worries, the larger the wager. Jiang Li is now trying to have the Heavenly Monarch increase his bet, committing enough capital until the showdown with Jiang Li.

"Then let's proceed as planned, after all, with me around, you don't need to worry about being beaten by the Heavenly Monarch."

Sun Wukong casually reminded him, "That young fellow should have obtained the Jade Emperor's Dao Fruit long ago; the shadow of the Jade Emperor can be seen in his cultivation technique."

"Is it... No wonder." Jiang Li murmured.

No wonder the Heavenly Monarch is so adept at the Cosmic Technique, it turns out he gained insight from the Jade Emperor's Dao Fruit.

With the abilities of a Supreme, even if unable to accommodate the Dao Fruit, he can gain much from it, and the Heavenly Monarch's utilization of the Jade Emperor Dao Fruit is merely for comprehension.

Just like Manjusri using the Great Sun Tathagata Fruit to cultivate the Tathagata Undestructible True Body, the Heavenly Monarch also combines the Jade Emperor Dao Fruit with his Yellow Heaven Form, thus able to create Realms by focusing his vertical eye, unfolding the Heavenly Realm.

These two utilization methods could even be said to have a common source, bearing great similarity, both utilizing the Incense Fire Thought Power, and both employing the Second Grade Dao Fruit in an alternative manner.

The Heavenly Monarch definitely masters the summoning techniques of a Buddha Country, and his attainment is undoubtedly high, perhaps even surpassing Manjusri and Guanyin.

The Heavenly Monarch once lurked within a Buddha Country and built a considerable influence. If the Awakened hadn't calculated against him, using the Daoist Lord's hand to destroy his physical body, the leading figure of the Buddhist transmission eastward might not have been Manjusri.

'If calculated this way, Yellow Heaven should be the Heavenly Monarch's External Dharma Form.' Jiang Li realized.

Cultivators in the Buddha Country use Arhat Bodhisattvas as their Dharma Forms, while the Heavenly Monarch utilizes "Heaven" as his Dharma Form, essentially no different.

It's just that the Heavenly Monarch hides very well, making it difficult for others to associate the Yellow Heaven Form with the Buddha Country's External Dharma Form.

'Last time in the Buddha Country, the Heavenly Monarch didn't fully reveal his strength.'

Jiang Li didn't know that during the Heavenly Monarch's last move, he used a body cultivated for decades, but with today's discovery, he already can be certain the Heavenly Monarch didn't put forth his full effort.

"It's getting more and more interesting."

From within the scroll, a leisurely voice emanated.

Simultaneously, the dragon shadow drawn on it gradually vanished again.

Since this scroll is equivalent to a part of Jiang Li's physical form, the force of the Nine Provinces' mountains and rivers won't weaken. Even if separated by thousands of miles from his main body, it can still maintain the seal.

Unless Jiang Li withdraws this portion of power, the Great Venerable can only attempt to escape from the outside.

The dragon shadow in the painting probably realized this point, which is why it stopped struggling.

...

...

As the dragon shadow stopped struggling, within the Wushan Taihao Hall, a man dressed in green stepped into the great hall and removed the Asura Ghost Mask from his face.

"Witch Zhen?"

The Heavenly Charm Demon God guarding the hall softly murmured first and then changed his expression, "No, you are the Great Venerable."

Among the avatars split by the Great Venerable, the timeline of "Witch Zhen" serving as the Fourth King in the Fire House Buddha Hell is the closest to him, and the temperament is most similar, but upon real comparison, there are still differences.

The path of Witch Zhen now is clearly dominated by the main consciousness of the Great Venerable, representing the Great Venerable who controls everything.

This is unusual.

The Great Venerable only went to Jingzhou a short while ago to deal with Princess Ji Lingguang, and logically speaking, even if returning with an avatar, he should have brought Ji Lingguang back.

"Don't bother guessing. This time, I was overturned in the ditch, fell into an ambush, and my main body was sealed by Jiang Li."

The Great Venerable let out a bitter laugh, walked to the end of the hall, and gently summoned.

A bronze pot flew out from the mural at the hall's end, opened in front, and the Evil Summoning Banner inscribed with countless names rose.

"As expected, Da Kun's name disappeared; the attack was indeed ruthless and swift." The Great Venerable murmured.

At the moment when the main body was sealed, he realized Jiang Li was going to act viciously, but still underestimated this convenient brother's initiative and strength.

In such a short time, he had already killed Da Kun.

The Great Venerable could only lament that he hadn't underestimated by much; Jiang Li hadn't gone so far as to slay Xuanwu as well.

"Was Da Kun killed?"

Upon hearing the Great Venerable was sealed, Heavenly Charm's expression had already changed, and upon hearing Elder Da Kun was slain, she showed an even more drastic change.

"Is it that Jiang Li? How is it possible?"

He was clearly newly elevated to the third grade, even if bearing the Emperor Dao Fruit and entering the Supreme realm, how could he have overturned the Great Venerable?

"Was it that slut Ji Lingguang's doing?" Heavenly Charm said with a murderous look in her eyes.

If not for this slut affecting the Great Venerable's mental state, how could the Great Venerable have fallen into an ambush?

"It has nothing to do with her; it was my own carelessness." The Great Venerable explained.

But looking at Heavenly Charm's appearance, it was clear she didn't believe it was unrelated to the Princess.

After all, what man wouldn't be moved upon seeing that scene?

Though the Great Venerable said he didn't care, his heart must surely be aching.

This was the consensus between Heavenly Charm and Feng Ziyang.

"Do not underestimate Jiang Li."

The Great Venerable had to continue to explain to prevent Heavenly Charm from suffering losses afterward, "His scheming mind doesn't match his age, and it is unknown what he went through when he was promoted to the sixth rank."

Thinking back and forth, only Jiang Li's Yellow Millet Dream during his promotion to the sixth rank Pure Yang True Man can explain this deep-seated strategy.

Seeing the Great Venerable so earnestly explaining, Heavenly Charm reluctantly believed part of it, but still attributed the other part to the Princess.

Additionally, with the Great Venerable sealed and Da Kun slain, the remaining plans are hard to proceed.

"Great Venerable, is there a way to unseal your main body?" Heavenly Charm hastily asked.

"There is a way, but it is almost impossible."

The Great Venerable shook his head and said, "With that monkey watching, unless a Supreme intervenes, there is absolutely no chance for me to break the seal prematurely."

"Then what can be done?" Heavenly Charm's face also showed worry.

"For now, increase the support for the Heavenly Monarch," The Great Venerable looked profoundly at the Evil Summoning Banner, "Additionally, prepare for the possibility of not being able to succeed."

Having reached this point, the Great Venerable has recognized that Jiang Li is hard to control, and the plan for him to induce the power of the heavens faces its most critical variable.

In truth, the Great Venerable's heart has already prepared for the possibility of failure.

However, the Great Venerable has been preparing for so many years, so it's not truly a dead end yet.

"Let me see who will win in the end; let the Immortal Queen enter the fray."